Nancy, thank you for that encouraging word - it just now showed up.

I had a long note to you all but it didn't post - nor did my sunrise photo. So here is the photo (yay!) that reminded me of yours, Nancy, with the sun rays.

Sabbath blessings,

Ade

The comforting thing about this scripture is that God gives us strength according to our needs for that day. He is there to equip us for whatever challenges we face. We don't need to face a day knowing it is going to be full of challenges with our own strength. Many times we get very discouraged knowing our strength is not enough and guess what.........it is NOT enough. We can only get through this life with Jesus infilling us with that strength we need to face our daily challenges and circumstances. Going it alone is going to be a very lonely and very treacherous path that is going to lead to unnecessary problems. Plug into your source this day and stay connected to Him throughout your day. That is how to live victoriously in Jesus.

Deuteronomy 33:25 New King James Version (NKJV)

25 Your sandals shall be iron and bronze;
As your days, so shall your strength be.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Amazing picture Nancy. It was 70* here in San Diego today so we took a walk to the beach taking a break from cleaning out some cupboards. This is the first day I have felt better from my cold and I am trying to get things organized before the busy holidays. I have a scan on Friday and I am trying to keep extra busy. Such is my life... Glad you are safely home.

Chris, I am glad you are finally feeling better. It has been a long time coming. I will be praying for your scans on Friday. I had to get a refill on my inhaler which was disappointing that I even needed to do this but I finally got it after sending in a request to my doctor last Wed. It got held up until tonight and I didn't realize Pharmacists could just change a script for it to clear insurance. Apparently the original script was changed and I didn't realize it. Oh well. I have it now if needed. Still coughing and not sure if it is the lung issue or possibly a side effect to another med.

Glad you liked the photo. I wish I would have had my camera but I had just come from the Y and wanted to see the flags in the snow. Such goofy weather. In several days they say it might hit 50 where as tomorrow it will be below zero wind chills.

Welcome Margo. I am sorry you are dealing with this in your fairly new retirement. Our stats are somewhat similar. I too developed a seroma after my lumpectomy and was pretty miserable until my surgeon manually drained it. I hope you got some intervention if needed. Congrats on a long career in nursing. I am sure that your work with hospice was difficult but rewarding. We have a mix of ladies here as far as their cancer journeys and stages of the disease. I am one of the fortunate ones that I have now finished all treatment and drugs and am now dealing with other medical issues that have been a challenge. One of our newer ladies is in radiation right now but she hasn't posted for a while. I think she was doing 16 treatments. I did 33 which was the standard in my area in 2014 but it seems like things are changing in radiation duration. Please feel free to post anytime.

Love,

Nancy

Margo, it sounds like you have had a rocky period which I hope will be over and radiation will be a breeze. I am single and I bought a voice recorder and taped all of my cancer team when I would see them. There is a lot of information and some important things I might have missed if I hadn't done that. You may have family with you but even so it is good to hear everything. Of course I had to asked permission from each doctor and they all had no problem with this.

Your radiation oncologist will tell you the number of treatments probably and you may have options which in my particular case I didn't. There is more than one way to do radiation for bc. Your Medical Oncologist will probably discuss putting you on an Aromatase Inhibitor which we call an AI here. You are estrogen positive and there are choices of AI's for that. For me that didn't happen until three weeks after my radiation treatments were over. The duration for the AI is at least five years.

Do you have a nurse navigator? If you do they are worth their weight in gold.

If you did the Oncotype test that will tell your Medical Oncologist whether you need chemo or not. If you didn't have any lymph nodes coming back positive you more than likely will not but if you do that test will help determine if you need chemo.

Hope this helps.

Love,

Nancy

Praying for ThisIknow as she goes through radiation treatments. Praying for Margo as she waits to find out her treatment plan as she recovers from surgery.

Nancy B. How about sending some Hawaii weather our way!!!

Ade, praying for you and James as you make this LOOOOOOOOOOOONG trip. Hang on to this verse as this VA journey may be a process that takes some time.

Ellen, praying for you and Clyde as you seek God's will. Praying for healing after the hurtful time you have been through.

Faith, praying for you as you deal with PT, not feeling well and entering a very busy time I imagine with your church choir.

Chris, praying for scans on Friday.

Joanne, praying as you wait on a surgery date for DH.

Hershey, praying you are able to be a light in your challenging workplace.

Debbie (Foots) praying you are doing well. Give Faithful Grace a hug for me.

Jean, praying you are doing well.

Gumdoctor, we haven't heard from you in a long time. How are you doing?

I am sorry if I have left anyone out which I imagine I have.

Have a good day dear sisters. I am off to an oncology apt.

Love,

Nancy

Romans 15:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hello again everyone, sorry I've been MIA lately, it's been an exhausting and stressful time for me but things are slowly improving. I've been doing PT for my back and sciatica and progress is slow. Some days are better than others and doing the exercises at home also takes time. I'm not sure what I've mentioned but my tests have all been ok so I'm grateful for that, especially my blood work and normal tumor markers. Praising God for all His blessings!! He really has been by my side through these last days. I had a good visit with my MO this week and we discussed the side effects of my AI. I had found some research about the half life of Letrozole and asked if we could consider an every other day dosing schedule. Since my cancer seems to be very slow growing, he agreed. While it's a little scary, I need to try this and trust that God will be with me in this also. Your prayers are most welcome while we see if my QOL improves.

I not sure if anyone remembers my asking for prayers for the husband of a dear friend who had esophageal cancer. He passed away about two weeks ago and it was one of the saddest funerals I've been to. I joined the choir for his service and it was hard. He was a really great guy (only 70) with the sweetest wife. Praying for Kathiand her family's comfort and peace.

Nancy, I've really enjoyed your beautiful pictures, especially the Veterans Day flags in the snow (UGH!). Your banners have also been so timely, thank you for being so faithful with them and to this forum.

Echoing Nancy's prayers for all of you. It's been a long day and I'm saying good night but keeping you all in prayer.

Love,

Faith (in the future)

Nancy, thank you for your continued prayers. I did ok at my scan today although I struggled physically getting enough strength to get there. Now for the waiting.

Ade, I am praying for James. I can't believe you don't have an answer for this. I have just recovered from getting sick from my granddaughter and it took me a month! I pray yours is shorter.

Faith, praying for God to send you rest and blessings.

I thank God for the support of everyone here. Chris

Thank you Nancy for your encouragement..... it’s been a good week for me , especially emotionally as I have dealt with mild depression a lot in the past, especially during the winter. Here in Alabama, we went from a 100 degree terrible drought straight to winter! But at least there is rain. ...I’ve been staying busy decorating for Christmas ( wayyy to early I know), grandchildren and my sons basketball 🏀 games... He is a coach..

I see my oncologist on Thursday.... I’ve heard a lot of great things about him.... They should have my Oncotype or Mammaprint study back by then. ... I did have my seroma drained twice and had cellulitis on top of its and it’s still a tiny bit red, even after a month of strong antibiotics. It’s been very slow to heal even though I have always been a rapid healer. So I don’t know what he will say about that.

Do they give Tamoxifen or similar drug after radiation or during or before? Doesn’t it cause joint pain? I have bad joint pain already.

I hope everyone has a great rest of your weekend

Hi dear friends,

I have been busy and didn't have a chance to post. I hope I can trust my memory of all the posts because I can't scroll back.

Faith, I am so glad to hear that your tumor markers and your scans have been good. I do pray that you will be able to do just fine with you AI every other day and feel better doing that. I know PT is a drag but I hope it is helping you in the long run. I have decided to postpone mine until after the holidays. Financially it would make more sense to do it now but realistically it doesn't make sense with me going down to my Mom's so much. I am sorry for your loss. Unfortunately the older we get the more funerals we seem to be attending. I do hope this sunny day in IL lifts your spirits a bit.

Ade, I just really hate to hear about you and James. I continue to pray for you and I hope that James will get some answers. I am glad your son was able to drive you. Did you get any satisfaction from the VA. I have continued to have the burning of the face and hands and today was another episode. I have chalked my situation up to no one is going to find out what is the problem move forward. My oncologist said we could go down a rabbit hole with tests for that but she said if you are dealing with it and I said yes I am and don't want to go down that rabbit hole. I am praying that James situation WILL be able to have a solution give the right set of medical eyes and ears from your doctors. I hope you feel much better. Be the caregiver when you need a caregiver is very tough and I can identify with that. It will get better.

Chris, I sure hope you can start to feel much better. I pray that your scan results will be good. My oncologist had to wear a mask as she examined me because she had been sick with this stuff. Praying for much better days.

Margo, I am glad you are having a good week. I actually have used a light box during the winter months for many, many years as I am affected by the shorter days and less daylight. I just saw my oncologist and I could not remember my Oncotype score exactly but it was 16. If you are post menopausal they will probably suggest one of the aromatase inhibitors. I was on Anastrozole (Arimidex) but I have had some friends that was leery of the joint pain and they were put on the other drugs in this class. I started my AI three weeks after I finished radiation. That was the choice of my Medical Oncologist. However different doctors may chose a different path for reasons that may pertain to your individual case or just their protocol. I finished my AI at the end of July. I was on it for five years. Some are on it for ten years. Tamoxifen is usually given for menopausal women or for women who do not tolerate the AI's very well. I had lots of issues with pain going into it but I really didn't notice things getting worse. I had other issues. Everyone is different. Exercise can help with the side effects and I am a lap swimmer.

I hope your cellulitis heals and that you have good direction once you see your oncologist. It always feels better once your plan is in place. We tend to gear up for the battle and of course the Lord gives us the strength we need to get through it all.

When I was my oncologist a few days ago she was a bit concerned because I am still coughing. She is VERY proactive and she put in her notes that I can see in MyChart and made it very clear to me that she wants to know if my coughing persists in the next 2-4 weeks. If it is still there she wants to do a lung CT scan. I am still coughing and I am curious if it is coming from my blood pressure meds. or acid reflux or who know what else. I was happy that other than that I don't have to see her for a year. First time EVER!!! So I felt like skipping in the snow out to my car. LOL

I got a letter from the VA yesterday and I was afraid to open it. It was basically the SAME letter I got several months ago with one additional thing in it. They obviously are not aware that my claim is in a huge pile with the other gazillion claims. So we wait and hope my Mom's money doesn't run out in the process. Trust. It all boils down to trusting in the Lord for ALL things.

Have a good weekend dear sisters.

Love,

Nancy

Heavenly Father, Please be with all these wonderful people, as You

Father know their every need. Please walk with those going through

a lot of pain or challenges. Know Your loving arms will carry them

and comfort them. Please bless those that are new or going through

again, that Your caring love will help them. Please guide and bless

those that are going through treatment or surgery, that Your hands

will guide. You are the Greatest Surgeon, Healing Doctor, Father

and Friend. Thank You for all You are doing and have done. In

Jesus wonderful name. Amen

As we enter into this holiday season it seems that our stress level can rise with the heightened expectations of having that perfect holiday dinner or decorating to rise to the level of previous expectations from years past. There is no shame in cutting back. I took a class on dealing with stress designed for teachers many years ago. The teachers/psychologists had a saying don't "should" on yourself. So when I am hearing that voice in my head saying you really should be doing ____________ I try to remember that advice. Try to be nice to YOU this season.

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Father, Please be with those here that need Your loving

touch of peacefulness. As they are facing another bridge, Please

keep them in Your care and let them feel better, as they rest in Your

love. Please be with those that are traveling, that Your angels will

keep them safe. Please guide those that are new or going through

a lot of test because of return. You are such a Wonderful God and

we know You see each tear or pain and even cry with us. Please give

courage and strength to those going through a lot of challenges or

treatments, Please be with everyone here and may they feel Your

loving arms around them. They love You so much and grateful for all

You are doing and have done. In Jesus wonderful name. Amen

Nancy, what great news! And the photo is lovely--bright and cheery! I will be praying for your tests.

Faith, I will also be praying for your BIL and his upcoming challenges with medical and business needs. This disease hits us all in so many different ways.

I met with my onc today and she is guardedly optimistic that things are remaining stable, but wants to move my scans up just a little sooner than the normal three months. The mets on my bones are still gone but there is some new activity in my liver area she wants to watch. I am praising God for His continued care for these 3 1/2 years on this same medicine.
I would ask for prayer for me tomorrow in another way. I am faced with the decision to have my cat euthanized tomorrow. If you remember, she is diabetic. With all my needs I cannot monitor her blood sugar daily and give insulin shots. She now refuses to eat her special diet food, and throws up a lot at random. Bending over for me doesn't work at all so clean-up is difficult. When I think of her quality of life I know she is about done and doesn't feel well and I don't want her to go on like this. The family all agree doing it now is the right decision. Still, it doesn't make it easy. Thanks for listening.

What a beautiful photo Nancy! So refreshing! I do appreciate the encouragement you and others give during this difficult time for many of us.

I just wanted to update you all about my first MO appointment today. My Mammaprint came back as High Risk so he did recommend chemo. I was quite surprised since the BS seemed to think only radiation, but that’s ok... so I’ll be getting TC regime starting Dec 2, 4 treatments every 3 weeks. The puzzling thing is he said I didn’t have to have a port. Being a nurse, I know how toxic chemo can be on the veins, so I’m leaning towards letting them know I do want a port. Does anyone here have an experience of getting these two drugs without a port? I only have two good veins to use for treatment and labs. Thanks for any input. I have put this on some other boards here also.

Blessings to you all